Golden Coast 2025

Every year, festivals continue to redefine France’s cultural landscape. In 2025, the spotlight turns to Dijon, which rises as the new capital of rap and celebration with Golden Coast, a large-scale event blending music, creativity, and inclusivity.
But behind the powerful basslines and crowd-chanted lyrics, an important question surfaces: what space is truly made for diversity and the queer community in massive music events?
With pulses of raw energy and deep moments of connection, Golden Coast 2025 marks a significant step toward building a more inclusive music space.

🎶 Golden Coast 2025: Dijon’s Landmark Rap Festival

Held from September 5 to 7 at Parc de la Combe à la Serpent, nestled on the outskirts of Dijon, Golden Coast 2025 has, in just three editions, become one of France’s biggest rap festivals. With a mega-sized lineup and stage production rivaling the world’s top music events, the festival has cemented its place at the top.

Over three days, the stage welcomed iconic performers including IAM, Gazo, Bigflo & Oli, SDM, MC Solaar, Zola, Dinos, Shay, and Ninho. The lineup perfectly balanced rap legends with the genre’s rising stars, highlighting the festival’s mission: unite generations under one musical culture.

The vibe? Absolutely electric.
Between sunshine and scattered rain, more than 60,000 attendees gathered, turning Dijon into a kind of French Golden Coast—vibrant, welcoming, and collective.

🧭 An Ambitious Vision: Rap as a Universal Language

The heart of Golden Coast beats with a core belief: rap is more than just music—it’s a form of self-expression.
Founded by figures from France’s independent urban scene, the event was crafted to be a space where all branches of hip-hop could be represented: old school, trap, drill, afro, RnB, and conscious rap alike.

By 2025, this inclusive vision had evolved further. This year, the festival proudly embraced diversity—both in sound and audience.
From a moving homage performance to Népal and Shay’s high-voltage set, to DJ sets led by women and non-binary artists on the secondary stages, Golden Coast is growing into a space for broader artistic identities.

“What we want is for everyone to feel at home here—no matter your gender, color, or orientation,” a team member told the local press.
A message that carries weight, especially in a genre that hasn’t always been known for openness.

🌈 Diversity Front and Center

At Golden Coast 2025, what stands out is not just the stellar lighting or crisp sound—but the sheer diversity of the crowd.
Teenagers vibing to drill, millennials reminiscing over IAM, families dancing through Bigflo & Oli sets, and notably, a strong presence of queer attendees and allies enjoying the festival fully, without fear or judgment.

Rainbow flags flutter openly among the crowds—not as acts of defiance, but as natural and joyful displays.
Some attendees even described it as “one of the rare rap festivals where you can dance freely without feeling judged.”
The blend of communities feels genuine and intuitive.

While there wasn’t yet a designated “safe space” area like at Dour or We Love Green, several local associations set up booths focusing on consent, inclusion, and wellbeing.
A worthwhile progression in a scene that still battles outdated stereotypes about masculinity and exclusion.

🏳️‍🌈 The Push Toward Inclusion in Hip-Hop

Addressing diversity in rap is no longer taboo—it’s a generational imperative.
The hip-hop world has often faced backlash for promoting hypermasculine clichés or overlooking minority identities.

Today, a new wave of queer, non-binary, and ally artists are shifting the narrative.
French names like Lala &ce, Kalika, Zed Yun Pavarotti, and Lean Chihiro lead the charge, embracing layered identities and shaking up norms.
Though not overtly activist, Golden Coast 2025 still highlighted this evolution by giving a platform to artists breaking the mold.

Conversations flowed throughout the grounds—on LGBTQ+ visibility in rap, queer-friendly playlists being swapped, and one clear emerging truth: hip-hop can be a space of freedom, not oppression.

💬 Real Voices: “You Feel Free Here”

Camille, 24, from Lyon:

“I’m a lesbian and love rap—but at many festivals, I feel eyes on me, or I hear strange comments. Here, none of that. Just dancing, laughing, and feeling seen. Golden Coast proves you don’t need to hide who you are to love hip-hop.”

Khalil, 29, volunteer:

“This year I saw more diversity not just in the audience, but among the crew, staff, and tech teams. Still not perfect, but we’re moving forward. And seeing queer couples in the crowd—it’s uplifting.”

These stories underscore a powerful feeling: Golden Coast 2025 fostered a genuine bubble of acceptance in a genre that’s often misunderstood.

🎤 A Bold Lineup From Mainstream to Underground

One of Golden Coast’s key strengths lies in its daring setlist.
From blockbuster artists to fresh discoveries, 2025 offered a high-energy and well-balanced program.
Friday night spotlighted Marseille’s rap royalty: IAM, Alonzo, SCH—creating bridges across generations.
Saturday pulsed with the new wave: Zola, Ninho, Shay, and The Nuits Blanches collective closing the night with a queer-forward DJ set.
Sunday wrapped the weekend with emotion and fireworks, led by Bigflo & Oli.

Yet perhaps the weekend’s real treasures lived on the smaller stages: underground rappers, queer DJs, and inclusive collectives creating intimate, unforgettable performances. This mix brought raw soul to the festival’s polish.

💡 Dijon, France’s Unexpected Rap Capital

Few would have predicted it, yet Dijon has transformed into a surprising rap hotspot.
By blending gastronomy, history, and street culture, the city now celebrates both heritage and modernity.
Hosting Golden Coast at La Combe à la Serpent, a lush green venue in the heart of Burgundy, proved a perfect match for a deeply immersive experience.

Local impacts have been significant:

• +25% increase in hotel bookings over the weekend,
• strong business for local stores and restaurants,
• and rising visibility for regional talent.

Several up-and-coming artists from Dijon and across Bourgogne-Franche-Comté opened for big acts or performed on emerging stages, bridging mainstream rap and local underground culture.

♻️ Eco-Conscious and Socially Aware

Music is just the beginning. Golden Coast also aims to be socially and environmentally responsible.
This year’s efforts included:

• Compost toilets,
• trash sorting areas